Your Six-Year-Old

Typical Behaviors of Six-and-a-Half-Year-Olds

As children move toward the age of seven, they become more balanced. This is a truly delightful time when the lively responses so characteristic of six come into full bloom.

Motor Behaviors

• Is more calm
• Begins to slow down

Language Behaviors

• Asks many questions
• Responds with liveliness and enthusiasm
• Loves playing guessing games

Personal-Social Behaviors

• Has a wonderful sense of humor
• Loves new places, ideas, and information
• Is proud of every accomplishment
• Is warm and loving
• Has great capacity for enjoyment

Learning Behaviors

• Enjoys intellectual tasks as a welcome challenge
• Is more aware of the surrounding world and curious about how things work
• Begins to approach the world logically for the first time

Parenting Strategies

Six-year-olds tend to have a difficult time with themselves and others. They are extremely anxious to do well, to be the best, to be first, and to be loved and praised. Any failure is hard to accept.

An ounce of praise produces a radiant smile but an ounce of disapproval produces tears and withdrawal. They are insecure and their emotional needs are great. As such, they cry often and can fuss about mealtimes, bedtimes, and play situations.

If parents can meet these needs with patience and understanding, the six-year-old can be a gentler, easier companion. Since children this age are constantly in a hurry, they rush to finish just about everything, including schoolwork and chores. They are more interested in the process than in the product and their work tends to be sloppy. Parents can offer little tricks to help the six year- old child learn to organize his or her world and stay on task.

The purpose of this pamphlet is to provide an overview of the typical, normal behaviors of young children at different ages and stages of development. Not every child goes through these somewhat predictable stages, and those who do have their own unique styles and individual timetables. Our advice to parents is to work with these stages, channeling behaviors and actions into positive outcomes without trying to prevent individual behaviors or characteristics.